One of the most compelling and exciting young jazz artists today, Etienne Charles, launches Civic Theatres Toronto’s “Jazz at the George” series at the George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, November 16, 2018. Tickets are on sale now at sonycentre.ca, by phone, or visiting one of the Civic Theatres Toronto box offices.
The New York Times calls Etienne Charles an auteur who is "one of [jazz's] more ambitious soloists and composers," JazzTimes applauds him as a "daring improviser" and DownBeat celebrates his tone as "melodically captivating" and "rhythmically agile" that makes his music "immediately pleasing."
Etienne Charles buoyantly taps into a myriad of styles rooted in his Afro-Caribbean background and plumbs the musical depths of the islands, from calypso to Haitian voodoo music. Also in his jazz amalgam mix are rock steady, reggae, belair, kongo and rock as well as the influence of Motown and R&B music Charles listened to on his parents' record player when he was growing up.
"Jazz is Creole music," says Charles who was born in Trinidad, relocated first to Florida and then New York to further his jazz studies (graduating, respectively, from Florida State's and Juilliard's jazz programs) and today teaches jazz trumpet at Michigan State University. "As a person in the new world, I've been influenced by so much music. And my family has a mixed background, with French Caribbean, Spanish and African roots as well as Venezuelan influences. I come from a fusion of rhythms, a fusion of cultures.”
“I’m looking forward to playing Toronto!” said Charles. “It’s where I fell in love with the concept of making a sound. My Mom, Sister and I were visiting my Uncle in Toronto back in 1987 and he was playing a saxophone. He let me try it, a sound came out and I was instantly hooked. Seven years later he gave me a trumpet. Now I’m launching the Jazz Series at the George Weston Recital Hall in Toronto"
ETIENNE CHARLES
George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St.
Single tickets range from $42.50 –$62.50
Tickets are available online at www.tocentre.com, by calling 1-855-985-ARTS (2787),
or in person at any Civic Theatres Toronto box office:
Toronto Centre for the Arts Box Office, 5040 Yonge St., Tuesday-Saturday 1pm-6pm
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, 1 Front St. E., Monday-Friday, 12pm – 5pm
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office 27 Front St. E., Monday-Friday, 12pm – 6pm
Ticketmaster phone lines operate 9:30am – 8pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 8pm Sundays and holidays.
On-line sales operate 24 hours per day.
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